Sports

O’s, Machado overpower Royals

Baltimore  When Manny Machado arrived at Camden Yards amid much fanfare, Orioles manager Buck Showalter insisted the 20-year-old player was promoted for no other reason than to help the team win.

And that is precisely what Machado did in his second game in the major leagues.

Machado thrust himself into the Orioles’ record book by hitting two home runs and driving in four runs, a power display that carried Baltimore past the Kansas City Royals, 7-1, on Friday night.

After going 2-for-4 in his debut on Thursday, Machado hit a solo shot in the fifth inning and a three-run drive in the sixth. Both homers came off Luke Hochevar (7-10) and landed in the left-field seats.

The second clinched the victory, but Machado will never forget his first home run trot in the big leagues.

“It was the best feeling ever,” he said. “The crowd here loves me, and for them to support me like that, after my first home run, it just felt great.”

After the second one, Machado was pushed out the dugout by teammate Adam Jones to acknowledge the request of a curtain call by the crowd of 17,277.

“It was great,” Machado said. “I’ve dreamed about that my whole life, about going out there and getting that curtain call, and second game in the big leagues I get it.”

At 20 years and 35 days old, Machado is the youngest Orioles player ever to have a multihomer game. Boog Powell was 20 years and 258 days old when he homered twice against Minnesota in May 1962.

Machado also became the 12th youngest major leaguer since 1918 to hit at least two home runs in a game.